Unemployment in York County, Nebraska, is lower than in 95% of U.S. counties
In York County, 2.5% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 95% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 86% of U.S. counties.
What drives York County's score
In York County, late payments on loans are the highest-scoring part, at 46.7. Jobs are the lowest part, at 5.7.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in York County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
York County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 46.7 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.4% · August 202549th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.5% · August 202554th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score36.8% · second quarter of 202636th percentile
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- 33.8 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent19.0% · 2020 to 202455th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income16.8% · fiscal year 202712th percentile
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- 25.3 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector16.2% · August 202523rd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people83.6 · 202527th percentile
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- 23.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.1% · 202415th percentile
- Children below the poverty line8.6% · 20248th percentile
- People with a disability15.1% · 2020 to 202441st percentile
- People without health insurance5.4% · 2020 to 202424th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$74,591 · 202429th percentile
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- 5.7 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20265th or lower percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working12.2% · 2020 to 20246th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in York County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In York County, 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
York County
Nebraska
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In York County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 21.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In York County, Nebraska, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 21.1%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in York County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 4.1% in 2021 to 6.1% in 2022.
The share of households in York County getting SNAP food aid fell to its lowest on the chart in 2021, then climbed past the 2009 level
Low on the chart: 4.1% in 2021. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, York County, Nebraska.
How York County has changed
York County's population rose 7% from 1969 to 2024, with most of the change between 1974 and 1979
High on the chart: 14,967 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, York County, Nebraska.
The number of jobs located in York County had its largest drop, from 8,930 in 2005 to 7,251 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in York County was at its highest on the chart in 2005 and is down 14% since
High on the chart: 8,930 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, York County, Nebraska.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 1.8% | 2025 2.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.0% | 2024 9.1% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $27,803 | 2024 $74,591 |
The table uses 2.6% for 2025; the score uses 2.5% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in York County's history
1855
March 16, 1855 (created) April 26, 1870 (organized). Wikipedia
1910
The county's largest recorded population was the 1910 Census count of 18,721. The 2020 Census counted 14,125, 75% of the peak. Census Bureau
1964
A tornado in May 1964 did $2.5 million in property damage and killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1990
A tornado in March 1990 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2022
A thunderstorm in June 2022 did $10 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2022
A thunderstorm in June 2022 did $10 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1967
20 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered York County, 10 of them for flooding. FEMA
York County beside its neighbors
York County scores higher than all five counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, York County ranks 3rd of the six; Fillmore County is highest, at 21.6%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| York County, NE | 13 | 9.1% | 21.1% |
| Fillmore County, NE | 7 | 8.5% | 21.6% |
| Seward County, NE | 3 | 7.9% | 18.1% |
| Polk County, NE | 2 | 8.0% | 18.0% |
| Clay County, NE | 0 | 9.6% | 21.5% |
| Hamilton County, NE | 0 | 6.6% | 17.8% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is York County the poorest county in Nebraska?
No, York County's poverty rate was 9.1% in 2024, 70th highest of 93 in Nebraska (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Garden County, at 16.9%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, York County ranks 47th of 93 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in York County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Aid of Nebraska
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in York County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.